doublegunshop.com - home Forums General Discussion DoubleGun BBS @ doublegunshop.com Spanish Gun Makers vs. Other Gun Makers

In regards to modern SxSs, don�t overlook the Perazzi DC12. It can be ordered in a competition or game configuration. Side plates are an option with the SCO version. Bulletproof guns.

Not long ago, I bought (on approval) a Cogswell and Harrison 20 gauge SLE.It was decently finished, but had Spanish locks. Not nearly the equal of a decent Birmingham gun. It went back to the seller. Too bad - I really wanted it to be a good one.

Fact> All countries had gun makers who made very good guns and very poor guns .
You can not make a general statement that one countries guns were better than anothers without factoring in numerous things .

Birmingham gunmakers in the past produced a lot of guns that were to be honest terrible .
Spanish , Italian makers also produced poor quality guns as well as very high quality guns .
Pricing aside , I have seen well made continental guns poorly finished so looking cheap at the same time exceptionally well finished guns that were terrible inside. Some Turkish I have seen are good examples of this .
You need also to consider the materials used , traditions/style of the gunmakers of that country and the market they were made for ie. was the gun meant to shoot a few birds for the pot or to shoot 500 bird drive days on a grouse moor ?
Each must be taken on its merits and comparisons can only be made by comparing guns of similar style and age .

Well put.

Best,
Ted

Indeed.

I have owned several Spanish guns, and I used three Spanish guns extensively: AYA No 2 and No 4 and an Arrietta 16 ga sidelock 572 model, I believe. I never had any mechanical issues with any of them. But both sets of the AYA barrels diverged their patterns. The No 2's left barrel shot to the left by 8 inches compared to the right barrel. The No 4 was a true left hand gun. The left barrel shot to point of aim but the right barrel shot low and right. The Arrietta's barrels shot together but low and the stock was very high already. I traded the Arrietta for an English SA Leonard sidelock. I used that gun successfully for several years until I obtained my current left hand pair. I would not buy another Spanish gun except to resell.

My AyA 4/53 28 ga had barrels that diverged. It was sent to Briley's to have thin wall choke installed to correct the issue, which it did. My 12ga 4/53 has been rock solid for years now. I had Briley thin wall chokes installed in the 12 ga also to permit the use of steel shot when it was required.

I purchased both some years ago and I am very satisfied with them.

It seems that many Spanish guns have had issues with pattern regulation. I've never owned one, but own two Turkish S x S guns and several "Italians". The patterns from all are regulated very closely, even though one in particular requires a certain off the shelf load to be so. One of the guns is a $489 gun. Mine was actually bought on sale at $439. It is the best regulated of all my S x S imported guns.

I don't get why a builder of a very nice gun cannot get something as basic as barrel regulation right. I understand that bad eggs slip through occasionally. But, when a man has owned 3 Spanish guns, and all three won't shoot wouldn't they're supposed to, something is sorely lacking. But, it's not just Spanish guns. It must be contagious, because one is apt to find a double with divergent patterns from nearly anywhere new guns are made, tho' I've never seen or heard of a Perazzi that wasn't right.

No secret, I'm a perfectionist about pattern regulation with shotguns. It's a deal breaker for me.

SRH

One Spanish make of gun I certainly wouldn�t knock is the Arrizabalaga. Ones I have seen are pretty fine guns, fit and finish is very good, actions are sweet, regulation is spot on, and balance is fine. My gun broke last year and my bud let me shoot his Arrizabalaga the month of February at wild quail. I was very impressed with this fine gun.

You have one gun, Buzz? There was a point in my life where I had one gun, but,it was a Remington model 17. I was about 17. Then I bought a Darne 20 gauge R 15, and I had two guns.
Right after that, things went to hell, and I think I have, like, 22 guns, now.
I wouldn�t need to borrow a gun, ever.
Surprised that you would.
Anyway, what makes those golden era English bests what they are isn�t what drives high end Spanish makers, today. Customers, then, and now, drive some of what goes on with best guns, which, is why there are unfortunate, used examples of English best guns engraved with Eric Clapton�s likeness.
We compare the times of different eras, and attempt to measure the products of those eras, with the needs of a current era.
Tough work, indeed.

Best,
Ted